Lower extremity compartment syndrome after laparoscopic radical hysterectomy: brief report of an unusual complication of laparoscopic positioning requirements

Compartment syndrome of the lower extremities is a clinically and medicolegally potentially devastating complication. Recently, the more widespread use of advanced laparoscopic surgical techniques, dealing with complex gynecologic diseases, including gynecologic malignancies and severe endometriosis, has led to an increasing number of laparoscopic surgeries of long duration (> 4 hours). With only very few case reports published in the gynecologic literature, increased attention is warranted with regard to this clinically insidious complication. We present a case report and review of the existing literature and discuss the main clinical features as well as preventive and therapeutic options.